UPDATE – Dec. 18, 2025: White House Gives Federal Employees Two Extra Holidays (Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, 2025)
While Christmas Day, December 25, is a holiday, December 24 is not. There has been a long history of presidents providing an extra day off during the holiday week.
Christmas Eve this year falls on a Wednesday, which historically means a full day off is not likely (but perhaps an early closure in the afternoon). The day after Christmas, because it falls on a Friday this year, could be the time federal employee receive an extra day off which would give them a four-day weekend.
But even in recent years, the historical norm has been broken. In 2019, President Trump gave federal employees Dec. 24 off, when Christmas Day fell on a Wednesday. Former President Joe Biden gave federal employees Christmas Eve off last year even though it was on a Tuesday.
What will happen this Christmas Eve — or the day after Christmas?
If extra time off is granted, the president normally announces it in an executive order in mid-December.
The Office of Personnel Management has this statement on its website:
“Christmas Eve is not a regularly scheduled holiday. While the President has the authority to grant leave it is usually announced just before the Christmas holiday. Please check operating status at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/current-status/“